Novak Djokovic news: Outcry and he admits attending event after positive Covid test

Kevin Palmer
January 12, 2022

Novak Djokovic has released a statement confirming he attended at least one event after being informed he tested positive for Covid-19 on December 16th.

In a statement on Instagram, Djokovic confirmed he attended an interview with L’Equipe after being informed of his positive test, which needed to fall in the three weeks after his final match at the Davis Cup on December 3rd to allow him to enter Australia for first Grand Slam of the year with a medical exemption.

Djokovic had his visa revoked when he arrived in Australia, after failing to convince border forces that he had a valid reason to enter the country with a medical exemption, but he subsequently had that decision overturned on appeal.

The Serbian is currently awaiting a decision from the Australian Federer Government on whether he deport him, with his statement on Instagram an attempt to defuse the storm that has erupted around him.

In his post, Djokovic admitted to making an “error of judgement” by attending an interview with a French journalist while Covid positive, while he also said he attended a children’s tennis event the day after being tested for Covid-19.

“I had not received the notification of a positive PCR test result until after that event,” the statement said.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYnO7cDqbdj/?utm_medium=copy_link

“The next day, on 18 December I was at my tennis centre in Belgrade to fulfil a long-standing commitment for a L’Equipe interview and photoshoot. I cancelled all other events except for the L’Equipe interview.

The minister has since Monday been considering personally intervening in the matter after Djokovic won his court battle against the Australian Border Force, with the Australian Open draw due to be held on Thursday.

“I felt obliged to go ahead and conduct the L’Equipe interview as I didn’t want to let the journalist down, but did ensure I socially distanced and wore a mask except when my photograph was being taken.

“While I went home after the interview to isolate for the required period, on reflection, this was an error of judgement and I accept that I should have rescheduled this commitment.”

Huge questions still remain over the date Djokovic’s positive Covid test, as it fell in a very small window that allowed the unvaccinated star to claim he needed a medical exemption to enter Australia.

Australian immigration minister Alex Hawke has said a he is still considering whether to cancel Djokovic’s visa.

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